New mum ‘devastated’ other parents will miss Hobart Private Hospital maternity experience

New mum Alicia Read will be eternally grateful for the professional care she and baby Millie received from doctors and midwives at Hobart Private Hospital earlier this month.

Proud parents Adam Smith and Alicia Read, with baby Millie, who was born in February at Hobart Private Hospital. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

New mum Alicia Read will be eternally grateful for the professional care and personal support she and baby Millie received from doctors and midwives at Hobart Private Hospital earlier this month.

So after being blessed with such positive birthing experience, Ms Read admitted she was devastated to learn the hospital would cease offering maternity services to Tasmanian families at the end of August, following Thursday’s announcement by private operator Healthscope.

“Everyone at Hobart Private was incredible, and nothing was too much for them,” Ms Read said.

“And when I was readmitted with post-surgery complications, I had the same midwife who knew my story, which made me feel secure and reassured.

“I’m just very thankful and grateful for everyone’s care.”

Baby Millie born at the Hobart Private Hospital on February 8th to parents Alicia Read and Adam Smith of Hobart. Hobart Private Hospital have announced they will end their maternity services. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Ms Read said she and partner Adam decided to pay for private health insurance ahead of Millie’s birth because they wanted to have choice – something she said there would be much less of in Tasmania when Hobart Private closes the doors of its maternity ward in six months’ time.

“As a first-time mum, I wanted the choice of my own OB-GYN, and continuity of midwife care,” she said.

“It’s very disheartening to know that future mums won’t get to have that choice, and heartbreaking that they won’t get to experience the exceptional support and care from the midwives at Hobart Private.

“It’s a very vulnerable experience for a woman, and going into a more crowded and pressured system could be very overwhelming.”

What they said on maternity closure

“This decision is one we wish we didn’t have to make.

“We have looked at a range of options to maintain the maternity service and worked very hard to recruit the full-time midwives we need.

“Unfortunately, these efforts haven’t secured the workforce we need and has made maintaining a stable and reliable maternityservice increasingly difficult.”

Healthscope Victoria/Tasmania State Manager Chris Hewison

“Today is a very sad day for women in Tasmania and is the end result of years of neglect and underfunding of women’s healthservices. But the blame game needs to stop now.”

Dr Michael Lumsden-Steel, Australian Medical Association (Tasmania) president

“This is very disappointing news, and Healthscope are clearly putting profit before people. HACSU have requested a meeting between Health, Calvary, Healthscope and unions to ensure all workers jobs a kept and that we don’t lose any vital healthcare workers as result of this.”

Health and Community Services Union state secretary, Robbie Moore

“It is disappointing that yet again Healthscope have put profit over patient care and sadly it is women and babies that will again be most affected with a reduction in maternity care options for women in the south of the state.”

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Tasmanian branch secretary Emily Shepherd.

“Healthscope’s withdrawn of maternity services in Hobart devalues our state commitment to women’s healthcare.”

Dr Kirsten Connan, Hobart obstetrician and gynaecologist

“Our government stands ready to work with the federal government, key stakeholders and private providers such as Calvary Healthcare to support the additional requirements in capacity for birthing services in Southern Tasmania.”

Tasmanian Minister for Health, Jacquie Petrusma

“I understand there have been ongoing and positive conversations between private health insurers and the Tasmanian Government to ensure ongoing access to services for people in Hobart.

“Our Government will continue to work closely and collaboratively with the Tasmanian Government to ensure that maternity care services are provided for all women when and where they need it.”

Federal Minister for Health, Mark Butler

“I’m sure Healthscope’s decision will cause a lot of concern for people planning a birth at Hobart Private.

“I can assure you that health funds will work hard with the Tasmanian government and the state’s other private hospital maternity provider to ensure members have alternative options.”

Private Healthcare Australia chief executive, Dr Rachel David

“With understaffing remaining a massive issue, maternity services in Tasmania’s public hospitals are already stretched to the limit, and this decision will only increase pressure on the system and lead to worse outcomes for patients.”

Ella Haddad, Labor health spokesperson

“During the coming weeks and months, we will continue to operate as usual while also investigating how we may partner with the Tasmanian government and private health insurers to safely support the many expectant mothers and their families, midwifery staff, and doctors, who will be seeking alternative care and workplace arrangements.”

Calvary Health Care

“All of this is an extraordinary wake-up call for the Tasmanian Government to stop relying so much on the private hospitals and start prioritising funding for the Royal.”

Independent federal member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie

“It’s very worrying that the public maternity services may be completely overwhelmed by the increase in patients. This has serious implications for mothers and their babies, and the care they receive when they need it most.”

Cecily Rosol MP, Greens health spokesperson

“Healthscope are behaving atrociously by failing to communicate early about these changes, which would have allowed the government and/or other operators to step in.”

Independent Tasmanian parliamentarian, David O’Byrne

“I am devastated to hear this news and I understand there will be significant concern in the community about what this will mean for expectant parents and babies. I also feel deeply for the staff impacted by this decision.”

Independent Tasmanian parliamentarian, Kristie Johnston

Originally published as New mum ‘devastated’ other parents will miss Hobart Private Hospital maternity experience